Refrigerator shelf



De 221 R. A. HEM 2,306,266

REFRIGERATOR SHELF Fi1ed Apri1 20. 1940 Patented Dec. 22, 1942 uNiTso srres REFRIGERATOR SHELF Inc., New York, N ware FEECE e,.Ind., assignor to Serve],

Application April 20, 1940, ScrialNo. 330,681 3 Claims. (01. 211-147) The present invention relates to refrigerators especially of the household type, and more particularly to devices associated with the shelves of such refrigerators.

In the usual type of household refrigerator, the

positions of the shelves are non-adjustably fixed, so that unusually tall commodities cannot be stored therein unless the shelves have been previously installed to accommodate these commodities. Furthermore, this fixed setting of the shelves lends itself to ineiiicient utilization of available storage space in the refrigerator.

One object of the present invention is to provide means for selectively adjusting the elevation of a shelf in a refrigerator. This feature of construction permits selective elevational arrangement of the shelves in accordance with the size and shape of the commodities to be stored, and in a manner to efiiciently utilize the available storage space in the refrigerator.

Another object is to provide shelf adjusting means, which can be operated without removing the shelf from the refrigerator, and without removing the contents frcm said shelf.

Another object is to provide a shelf adjusting mechanism, which does not interfere with easy removal of the shelf from the refrigerator cabinet.

Another object is to provide shelf adjusting means, which maintains the shelf level in all positions, and which willeifectively lock the shelf in adjusted position.

Another object is to provide. shelf adjusting means, which can be operated by simple manipulation of a single operating member.

Another object is to provide shelf adjusting means, which can be applied to existing refrigerators without change in the construction of said refrigerators.

Another object is to provide a shelf adjusting device, which, occupies a minimum amount of space, and which does not detract from'the appearance of the shelf.

Another object is to provide a shelf adjusting device, which is easily accessible for cleaning purposes.

Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular spection of the accompanying drawing, which- Fig. 1 is a perspective of a shelf having elevational adjusting means, embodying the present invention, the shelf being shown supported description, and from an inin a refrigerator indicated in fragmentary sectional perspective,

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are detail sections taken on lines 33, 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 2 respectively, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the manipulable operating member of the shelf adjusting means, shown in conjunction with one of the bearing brackets, and in unlocked position for shelf adjusting operation.

In the specific form of the invention shown, a shelf l0 comprising one of a tier is supported horizontally in a refrigerator I l, which may be of the conventional household type provided with the usual inner cabinet lining H2. The shelf is is desirably of customary openwork construction, with a border frame bar It of rectangular shape, and a grating of parallel bars I l, secured to said frame bar, and is horizontally supported in the refrigerator H from hangers l5, affixed to and extending from its inner lining If. These hangers l5 shown in the form of wall hooks may be similar to those now used in household refrigerators for seating shelves in fixed position.

The shelf adjusting mechanism desirably comprises an adjuster shaft [5, supported substantially centrally of and below the shelf l8, and extending substantially parallel to the grating bars M. The ends of this adjustor shaft it are journalled respectively in bearing brackets I! and I8, secured to the underside of the shelf by any suitable means as for instance by welding to the front and rear sections of the frame bar I 3 respectively.

The shelf ill is suspended from the hangers l5 by means of cables 20, wound around the adjustor shaft I6, and carrying at their outer ends catches 21, which are shown in the form of open eye hooks, and which are straddled over said hangers respectively.

Two hangers l 5 on each side of the refrigerator cabinet and two cables 26 are employed, the latter extending downwardly from said hangers along the sides of the cabinet wall l2, and then horizontally along the bottom of the shelf Hi to the adjustor shaft [6 to support the weight of said shelf. Each cable 20 is shown in one piece with its intermediate section passing through a respective diametrical hole 23 in the adjustor shaft It as shown in Fig. 5, so that upon rotation of said shaft, the s ction of each cable on opposite sides of said shaft will be wound or unwound equally and simultaneously. If desired, each cable 29 may be split into two separate sections, and the inner ends of the sections affixed to the adjustor shaft in any suitable manner for simultaneous winding or unwinding operation thereon.

In order to guide the winding of the cables 20 on the adjustor shaft l6, a pair of retaining spool flanges 24 in the form of washers are affixed to said shaft on the outer ends of its winding sections respectively. These flanges 24 may serve to confine the shaft it against axial movementwith respect to the shelf it, or if desired other means such as cotter pins may be employed for that purpose. I

Guides 25 are provided for the sections of the cables 20 passing around the sides of the shelf If). These guides 25 are desirably angle-shaped, and of channel cross-section, and are secured to the side sections of the frame bar l3 by any suitable means as for instance welding.

To provide against horizontal shifting of the shelf l0, bumpers 26 are desirably secured to the corners of said shelf.

The rotation of the shaft It for elevational adjustment of the shelf IQ is effected by manipulation of a member 2?, accessible for operation from the front of said shelf, and shown in the form of a rounded handle or knob disposed belo -i the supporting surface of the shelf. This knob Zlis coupled to the adjustor shaft It for rotation therewith desirably by means of an axial sleeve or hub extension 28 on said knob, slidably embracing the outer end of said shaft, and having an elongated slot 33 lengthwise thereof. A radial pin 3! in the adjustor shaft i6 extends through the slot 36 and keys the knob 2.1 to said shaft.

The means for locking the shelf If! in adjusted position desirably comprises interlocking conformations between the knob 21 and the bearing bracket ii. For that purpose, the bearing bracket I! has a flange 32 provided with an opening 33 of polygonal conformation shown of square shape, and the section 31 of the knob hub passing therethrough is of corresponding cross-section for slidable non-rotatable reception therein. The rear sleeve section 28 of the knob hub is of cylindrical shape, and of sizeto permit it to slide and rotate freely in the bracket opening 33.

The knob Z'E is slidably retained on the adjustor shaft l6, and is urged towards the right into locked position shown in Fig; 2 by means of a coil spring 35, housed in an axial hollow 36 of said knob, and encircling an axial pin 31. This pin is anchored at its inner end to the adjustor shaft I6 desirably through the instrumentality of the key pin 3|, and has affixed near the other end thereof a collar d serving as an abutment for the outer end of the coil spring 35.

When it is desired to change the elevational position of the shelf 50, the knob 21 is pulled outwardly against the action of the spring 35 to the position shown in Fig. 6 and indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, to slide the square looking section 34 of the knob hub out of the square opening 33. In this position, the knob 27 can be rotated to cause rotation of the adjustor shaft It. This causes the cables 26 to wind or unwind on the adjustor shaft 16 according to the direction of rotation of the knob 21, and causes the desired change in the elevation of the shelf I 3 within the full range of the space afforded, while maintaining said shelf horizontal. When the shelf in has reached the desired elevational position, the knob 21 is released to return said knob inwardly under the action of the'spring 35 into locked position shown in Fig. 2. The knob 21 may have to be rotated slightly to bring the square outline of the knob locking section 34 into registry with the outline of the hole 33 before said knob can slide into position, but this will not materially affect the adjusted position of the shelf.

If a more selective and accurate adjustment of the shelf I6 is desired, the number of faces on the knob locking section 34 may be increased and the opening 33 correspondingly shaped.

The adjustable shelf It] may be supported below a fixed shelf, in which case the upper shelf may be seated upon the hangers l5 in the usual manner, to utilize one set of hangers for both shelves The shelf [0 of the present invention may be elevationally adjusted in accordance with the height of the provisions or commodities to be stored. Furthermore, the shelf l0 can be adjusted with respect to the other shelves, and the provisions in the cabinet arranged in such manner as to utilize a great deal more of the available storage space than is possible with fixed non-adjustable shelves.

It should be noted that the adjusting mechanism is hardly perceptible, and does not therefore detract from the appearance of the shelves. Furthermore, it does not interfere with easy removal of the shelves from the cabinet.

Also, it should be noted that an adjustable shelf of the type disclosed can be installed in any existing conventional refrigerator without the necessity of changing the construction of this refrigerator.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A shelf in a refrigerator cabinet, a cable winder on said shelf, said winder having means engaging means on the shelf to lock the winder against rotation when not in use, said means being disengageable to permit operation of the winder, and a sufidcient number of cables to suspend the shelf in a stable position, said cables being positively connected to said winder so as to be wound and unwound by operation of said winder and extending longitudinaly below the shelf and upwardly adjacent the sides thereof and adapted to be connected to supports in said refrigerator for suspending the shelf therein, said cables being located outside of the vertical upward projection of the upper surface of said shelf to leave a clear shelf surface in the refrigerator.

2. A shelf in a refrigerator, a cable winder on said shelf intermediate the ends thereof, said winder having a clutch, which clutch has means engaging mean on the winder and is provided with means to engage means on said shelf for holding the winder against rotation and said clutch being disengageable to permit operation of the winder, a sufficient number of cables to suspend said shelf in a stable position, said cables being positively connected to said winder so as to be wound and unwound by operation of said winder and adapted to be connected to supports in said refrigerator for suspending the shelf therein, and said cables extending from said winder below the under side of said shelf and thence upward adjacent the sides of the shelf to said supports to thereby cradle said shelf leaving a clear shelf surface in the refrigerator.

3. A shelf in a refrigerator, a cable winder on the under side of said shelf, said winder having an operating member at the forward edge of said shelf having means normally engaging means on said shelf to prevent rotation of said winder, said member and said second means being disengageable to permit operation of the winder, a sufficient l0 

